When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Davao City’s Apo Golf and Country Club carried the fight for the embattled Davao seniors squads and came through with a giant-sized win in the Aviator division of the 76th PAL Seniors Interclub in Bacolod City on Thursday.
Veterans Rufino Cabang and Alberto Belen struck hard for the Apo squad with 39 and 38 points each in the PAL system of scoring while Edwyn Catamanda’s 36 gave Apo a 122 total for the day and 471 through four rounds at both the Marapara and Binitin courses. That score was enough to earn a 13-point cushion over the Veterans Golf Club parbusters who had 116 in the final round for a 458 total good for second place.
Par 2000 Golf Club took third place honors with a 453 total.
Three other Davao clubs were not as lucky.
Davao City Golf Club finished at 5th place with a 453 total, Lanang wound up at 13th place with 418 while Rancho Palos Verdes can do no better than 14th place with another 418 but lost to Lanang by countback.
AGCC posted a congratulatory message on its social media page: “Here’s to the team’s hard work, dedication, and passion for golf! May this victory bring inspiration and motivation for future tournaments.”
The team is composed of team captain Regino Capa, Hilario Baluso, Cayamanda, Belen, Cabang, Jong Manulid, Dennis Madrazo, and Gerardo Josol.
Meantime, Yoyong Velez and Raul Minoza fired on all cylinders to lead Del Monte to a successful title defense in the Championship division at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
Velez and Minoza each carded 53 points, helping Del Monte turn what was expected to be a fierce competition into a surprising and dominant victory.
“We thought we had the strongest team in the final round,” said Velez, the long-time team captain. “Our strategy paid off.”
It marked the first time Del Monte won the tournament outside its home course.
“Nobody can say now that we can’t win outside Del Monte,” Velez said, paying tribute to his teammates for their dedication. “We have been practicing every day for the last month.”
With Crispin Aparilla adding 47 points, Del Monte posted a tournament-best 153 points, securing a nine-point victory over Luisita and Manila Southwoods.
Del Monte made its move early, taking a three-point lead over Luisita at the turn. Minoza was 1-under, while Velez was even par. Both players faced challenges in the last two holes.
Minoza made a double bogey on the 17th after his approach shot veered left into a flower bed. He was given a free drop but couldn’t save bogey.
On the other hand, Velez mishit his three-wood second shot after opting to lay up on the 18th.
“They forwarded the tee. I was torn between going over the pond or playing it safe. I had a poor tee shot and was in a bad position for my next shot,” Velez explained.
Despite taking a penalty drop, Velez managed to save double bogey for one point.
In the end, they had nothing to worry about. No team came close to challenging Del Monte’s title-defense bid.
“Tanggal lahat ng gulong,” said Manila Southwoods’ Junjun Plana, who closed with 51 points.
Luisita took second place, edging Southwoods via countback. The Tarlac-based squad posted 143 points, with contributions from Ronnie Littaua (49), Steven McDonald (48), and Rolando Punzalan (46).
Southwoods rallied with 146 points to tie Luisita. Don Breganza matched Plana’s 51 points, while either Thirdy Escano or Rusty Bayani’s 44 counted.
Canlubang finished fourth with a total of 559, following a closing 140. Damasus Wong shot 49, while Santiago Santos and Josefino Hernandez added 46 and 45, respectively.
The complete results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Del Monte 571 (132-141-145-153), Luisita 562 (129-145-145-143), Manila Southwoods 562 (132-141-145-153), Canlubang 559 (137-142-140-140), Cebu Country Club 544 (136-138-132-138), Camp Aguinaldo 532 (132-136-133-131), Alabang Country Club 524 (117-135-139-133), Filam Hawaii 499 (122-127-127-123), MSU Marawi 477 (112-131-117-117), Coral Ocean Point 455 (102-121-113-119), Engineers and Architects 322 (70-87-87-80)
FOUNDERS
Bacolod Team B 550 (148-141-134-131), The Orchard 549 (132-138-137-144), Negros Occidental Team A 534 (137-134-124-141), Club Filipino de Cebu Team 1 522 (136-130-122-134), Sherwood Hills 514 (126-131-127-130), Valley 513 (128-131-117-137), South Facific Davao 509 (123-121-133-132), Zamboanga 503 (132-117-125-129), Tagaytay Highlands 502 (133-114-128-127), Sta Elena 494 (130-121-129-114), SF Maharlika 494(120-109-136-129), Riviera 492 (116-121-119-136), Eagleridge 489 (120-108-136-125), Pueblo de Oro 486 (126-119-122-119), Villamor Airbase 473 (109-118-112-134), Wack Wack 472 (104-122-122-124), Guinhalaran 470 (126-101-124-119), UP Tee Jots 468 (112-114-123-119), Fairways and Blue Water 457 (112-114-110-121), Baguio 430 (112-96-107-117), South Bay of California 293 (110-87-0-96)
AVIATOR
Apo 471 (113-120-116-122), Veterans 458 (112-117-113-116), Par 2000 453 (124-107-103-121), Tagaytay Midlands 452 (88-124-124-116), Davao City 445 (106-113-112-114), Iloilo 437 (100-115-109-113), Mimosa 433 (103-120-107-103), Sarangani 432 (110-104-105-113), Forest Hills 428 (109-114-106-99), Filam Fairfield 426 (99-114-99-114), Alta Vista 422 (84-111-113-1140, Leyte 419 (82-105-124-108), Lanang 418 (91-110-106-111), Rancho Palos Verdes 418 (82-106-118-112), Negros International 416 (89-118-98-111), Beverly Place 415 (10796-102-110), Via Verde LA 414 (101-105-107-101), Iligan 412 (99-104-109-100), Dakak 405 (90-105-91-119), Dirab 403 (76-107-120-100), Cotabato 397 (105-98-95-99), Edwin Air Force Base 395 (96-99-106-94), Napa de Oro Winery 385 (94-96-88-107), Mt Malindang 384 (85-102-101-96), Filam Sacramento 382 (82-95-110-95), Paoay 382 (101-95-98-88), Guam Seniors 381 (97-97-91-96), Club Intramuros 377 (101-92-100-84), Boogie Buddies Filgolfers 363 (96-85-114-68), Philam Golf Florida 326 (60-100-77-89), MSU Marawi Team 2 242 (53-60-60-69)
SPORTSWRITERS
San Juanico 413 (104-104-104-101), Bacolod Team A 391 (96-100-100-95), PGA British Columbia 381 (96-88-96-101), West Highlands 377 (89-97-98-93), Moffet Field Team 1 375 (104-85-98-88), Filcansa 373 (102-86-97-88), Ping Golfers 372 (103-79-94-96), Liloan 362 (89-79-94-100), Pearl Kai 362 (102-78-90-92), Guam Seals 361 (107-77-102-81), Pinoy Vancouver 339 (88-85-66-100), Mabuhay SFO 337 (79-100-61-970, E-yona of Guam 336 (86-76-64-110), Pittsburgh Filam 334 (107-105-71-51), Sky West 334 (92-80-81-85), Guam Taotaomona 327 (77-76-82-92), Pinoy Twilight 327 (81-78-66-108), Camp Evangelista 326 (91-62-96-77), Simbolo Peninsula 322 (92-65-68-97), Filam SFO 322 (76-78-63-105), Canphil 321 (90-68-72-99), Illana Bay 321 (88-67-76-90), Philippine Golf Club of New England 312 (82-64-67-99), South Cotabato 311 (71-82-87-81), Filam Fairfield North 301 (58-076-64-103), Filam New Jersey 298 (87-74-67-70), Moffet Fields Team 2 294 (102-53-79-60), Guam Compadres 273 (68-63-74-68), Bennet Valley 230 (44-63-70-53)
FRIENDSHIP
SF East Bay 332 (62-112-80-92), Seattle Team A 328 (62-102-87-77), FilOz Sydney 298 (80-70-87-63), Brotherhood Sharp 293 (56-87-69-81), West Covina Warriors 273 (55-72-66-80)
